Introduction:

The Hogwarts Express chugs along the wide stretch of elevated track. It passes lush, green vegetation as a freshly fallen leaf flutters its way into an open window and perches within the messy, black hair of a young man. He carefully brushes away the leaf and continues to stare out the window as the trees fly past.

This young man is Harry Potter and he is on his way to his final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is not alone in his train compartment. Across from him sits a red-haired boy squished next to a smaller girl with frizzy, mangled, brown hair. They pay no notice to Harry, but are too busy tangling their fingers together.

These are Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The trio has been best friends since they started school six years ago, but now Harry feels like the third wheel. Only a month ago his two best friends had informed him with some shocking news...

"Harry…" Hermione had said to him gingerly as he took his seat in a large, brown chair back at the Burrow.

"There's something very important we must tell you. I hope you won't get mad, because we'd hoped we could have told you sooner…"

"Yeah, mate," said Ron cut in. "We really wanted to tell you... but we didn't know how you would take it."

At this point neither of Harry's friends were looking at him and silence took over them.

Trying to fill the awkward silence Harry chimed in, "You guys, you know that you can tell me anything and I'll back you up one hundred percent."

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other and then at Harry. Hermione took a deep breath and slowly sat on the carpeted floor leaning her body on the leg of Harry's armchair.

She dared to look Harry in the eyes only slightly but quickly looked away saying, "Harry... Ron and I are… together."

Having heard what Hermione had just said, Harry lowered his gaze to Ron who turned away quickly.

"How long?" Harry concealed his face, looking to the ground. He knew that this would happen someday, but he didn't know what he would do when it came. Harry's heart ached and pounded inside his chest as the answer followed.

"Four weeks now."

"How serious is it?" It was a silly question, Harry knew it, but the thought of his two best friends in a relationship like Ron and Lavender was hard to take in.

"What kinda question is that?" Ron added, standing up.

"Well, I want to know," Harry stood up too, but because of the height difference he was staring only at Ron nose.

"A lot of ... kissing involved?" Harry asked meekly, looking now at Hermione.

"Well..." Hermione started.

"Maybe a little, but no snogging or anything, don't worry," said Ron.

"Oh yes, of course. My two best friends have been dating behind my back for a month and it's pretty intimate, but since there's no snogging I shouldn't worry. Of course. Why would I need to be worried?" Harry yelled. His chest was on fire and he felt himself turning red in the face.

"Harry, please calm down-" Hermione stepped in front of him laying a friendly hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Clam down? CALM DOWN!! How am I supposed to calm down when you guys have been lying to me?"

"We haven't been lying to you!" Hermione was yelling now too.

"What else are you hiding from me? Are you already married? Or maybe you're both Death Eaters, right? Well, I'm done being lied too." Harry started stomping towards the back door. "Some friends I have," he yelled and slammed the door with all his might.

Harry still never forgave them for that day. The day when his world started to crash into tiny pieces along with everything else in his life.

He wanted his friends back to the way they used to be. Now, Harry Potter was sitting on the train to another year of Hogwarts scowling secretly across the compartment as his two best friends nuzzled together.

Could this year get any worse, he thought to himself as the train slowed its speed.